Hinge bearing of disconnect switches



March 30, 954 cs. E. HEBERLEIN 2,673,913

HINGE BEARING OF DISCONNECT SWITCHES Filed Jan. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V EN TOR.

March 30, 1954 L m H 2,673,913

HINGE BEARING OF D ISCONNECT SWITCHES Filed Jan. 8. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO Gad-imm- 5. M5 I Patented Mar. 30, 1954 1' i":

HINGE BEARING or DISCONNEC swrrcnrzs Gustave E. Heberlein, Bryn Mawr, Pa., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 8, 1952, Serial No. 265,409

Claims. 1

My present invention relates to disconnect switches or more specifically it relates to hinge bearings of disconnect switches constructed to carry current from the movable contact arm to the frame of a disconnect switch of the type shown in patent application Serial No. 145,387.

Many prior inventions provided a flexible conductor between the movable contact arm and the frame of disconnect switches. The flexible conductor was weatherproofed or otherwise protected. But notwithstanding these protections, it sometimes happened that the flexible conductor had the tendency to corrode, crystallize and break.

The primary object of my invention is the construction of a hinge bearing adapted to efficiently carry current between a terminal and a movable contact arm of a disconnect switch obviating the need of a flexible conductor.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby a threaded pin is clamped to the hinge casting so that the two parts, pin and hinge casting are in efiicient electrical contact.

Another object is the provision of a spring loaded threaded hinge pin for the movable con-- tact arm so arranged that the current may efficiently be carried through the hinge pin to the movable contact.

A further object of this invention is the provision whereby these contacts are placed in a fully weatherproofed and fully protected housing.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the disconnect switch incorporating this invention.

Figure 2a is a vertical section of this inventionshowing charged threaded pin and pressure loaded threaded contacts.

Figure 2b is a detail view of a modification of the hinge bearing.

Figure 2c is a detail view of another modification of the hinge bearing.

Figure 3 is a plan view of this invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of this invention showing the Various members of this invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, I have here shown a disconnect of the type disclosed in application Serial No. 145,389, filed February 21, 1950, in which the disconnect switch I0 is mounted on the base I l which is a suitable longitudinal structural support, in this case shown horizontally arranged for a horizontally or upright mo ll fid disconnect switch.

The base i I has secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the insulator spacers l2 and I3 the stationary upright supporting posts l4, l5 on the upper portions of which are mounted insulators 16, ll.

Base II is also provided with the bearing 20 appropriately secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the bolts 2| and carrying the rotatable vertical shaft 22 to the upper end of which is keyed the insulator 23 for rotation with the vertical shaft or post 22.

Below insulator 23 there is keyed to the shaft 22 the crank 30 secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the bolts 3| connected to the flange or crank plate 32. Bolts 2| which secure the bearing 26 in position also secure the stop plate 34 in position, the stop plate being provided at opposite ends with the adjustable stops 36, 31 which engage at either end with the stop 38 on the operating crank 30.

While stops 3B, 31 are herein provided, the construction and operation of my novel switch is such that it may operate properly without the stops at individual poles; in such case, the stops would be provided at the operating means for the entire switch.

Where stops are eliminated at all points, then the switch may be operated by crank 30 to close and then open by a single continuous movement in one direction to establish a contact momentarily and then break it.

Shaft 22a extends above the insulator 23 as effectively a continuation of vertical shaft 22 being, however, spaced therefrom by insulator 23. Crank 4!) at the'upper end of shaft 22a is preferably integral therewith and, therefore, rotates therewith.

Crank 40 extends horizontally or at least parallel with the base supporting structure II and rotates in the horizontal plane. Crank 40 is shown herein as tubular although it may have any desired cross-section consistent with the mechanical loads imposed thereon. The outer end of crank 40 is flattened at 4| and is provided with a circular opening 42. through which pin 43 may pass.

A clevis member 44 receives extension 4|, connection being made by pin 42. Clevis 44 is integral with the threaded extension 50 which enters into the tapped opening 5| in the forked link 52. The threaded extension 50 is so arranged that as the threaded extension 50 rotates with respect to the forked link 52 and its tapped opening 5|, it has linear movement with respect thereto. Forked link 52 has a pair of arms 54 at the ends opposite the tapped opening I which are secured to the blade crank BI of sleeve casting I52 by pin 60a. The blade support sleeve casting 62 carries the tubular switch blade 63 secured therein and rotatable therewith.

casting 62 is mounted for rotation around its Ion-1;;

gitudinal axis on an extension of the, hinge casting 10. The hinge casting 10 is in turn rotatably .1 I

mounted by the hinge bearings indicated generally at 12 on the forked frame casting '13.

The particular hinge bearing utilized forthis: purposeat this point constitutes the essence of w the present invention and will be discussed indetail below.

The frame casting I3 has a horizontal section I4 secured in any suitable manner as by the bolts I5 to the top of insulator IS. The sides 76 extend back to the solid portion 11 which is provided with an opening I8 appropriately recessed to form a bearing for crank 40 and its shaft.

The solid portion ll of the base casting 832 then extends beyond to form the terminal 80 to which appropriate leads may be connected.

The stationary contact 66 comprises the plurality of contact blades 90, 0| on each side biased toward each other by the spring support memhere 92, 93 and so arranged that when the blade 65, enters at an angl to the horizontal position during the closing operation, it will clear the blades 90 on each side. These contact members are so arranged, h0wever, that when the blade isrotated from the open to the closed position, the blade 65 in turning to the horizontal position will spread the contacts 90 and BI on each side against the tension of springs 92 and 93, creating th desired contact pressure.

The spring blades 92, 93 are current conducting and are connected in any suitable manner as by the bolts 08 to the base plate 30, which in turn is mounted in any suitable manner as by bolts I00 at the top of insulator I1. The base 99 of stationary contact structure 66 has an extension IOI which serves as a terminal block or connecting member.

Thus, when th disconnect switch is in the closed position of Figure 1, current enters the ter minal 80, passes through the frame casting l3 to the hinge bearing I2, then through the current carrying connection in the hinge bearing 12 to the hinge casting 10, from the hinge casting 10 to the contact valve 03, then through the contact 65 on the contact blade 63 to the stationary contact elements 00, 0| and then through the base 99 to the terminal extension WI.

The particular hinge bearing utilized for this purpose at this point constitutes the essence of the present invention. This hinge bearing which constitutes the current carrying connection be tween the frame and the hinge casting for the tubular blade 53 is shown specifically in the crosssectional view of Figure2, the side view of Figure Band the exploded view of Figure 4.

Referring, therefore, to these figures, the legs 16 of the frame 13 are each provided with a substantially cylindrical cup I00 at the upper right hand corner of each thereof.

. Each of the cups I00 is provided with a cylindrical recess IOI, each of the members I00 being also counterbored at I02 and internally threaded 4 at I03 at the counterbore to receive the contacting pin I30.

The hinge casting I0 is also essentially a bifurcated member having the arm H0. Each of the arms I I0 of the hinge casting I0 is provided adjacent its free end with an internally threaded circuar opening H2, the arm'I I0 beyond the openings H2 on each side having the extension lugs H3, H4 and the openings H2 being divided or slotted at I I5.

Lugs H3, III are provided with the openings H6, III. A threaded bolt I20 may be passed through the openings and tightened in place by the nut I22 or any suitable arrangement of lock nuts, thereby clamping the lugs H3 and H4 together and diminishing the size of the main threaded opening H2 on each arm H0.

In assembling the hinge casting 10 on the frame I3, the arms I I0 of the hinge casting are aligned with sections I6 of the frame 13 so that openings I I2 on each side of the arms I I0 are aligned with the bore opening I03.

The hinge p-in I30 on each side is then passed through opening H2 and when the threads I3I of hinge pin I30 engage threads of opening H2, the hinge pin I30 is rotated further through opening H2 until the hinge pin I30 .passes through opening I02 and projects beyond the same as shown in Figure 2 to engage the threads I03 of the cup I00.

This operation is performed on each side, the end of each hing pin I30 being provided with any appropriate means for rotating thesame as, for instance, a hexagonal recess I35.

After each of the hinge pins I30 is in the ap propriate position indicated in Figures 2 and 3, ends I I2 are tightened on bolt I20 clamping the lugs H3 and H4 together, thereby diminishing the size of opening I I2 and clamping the surface of opening H2 tightly onto the threaded surface I3I of hinge pin I30; by this means the hinge. pin I30 is at I3I substantially integrated for current conducting purposes with the arm H0 so that an efficient current carrying connection is established, the pin I30 being essentially rigid with the arm I I0.

The end I40 of the hinge pin I30 projecting into the cylindrical recess IOI of the cup I00 is of smaller diameter than the main portion of the hinge pin I30 so that it can engage a heavy compression spring I50.

As the pin I30 is rotated into the cup I00, it compresses the spring I50 so that the threads I03 of the cup I00 are in close contact carrying engagement on one side with the threads I62 of the hinge pin I30. In this type of connection, as compared to a well-known annular contact, four times the contact area is availablewhere four threads are in engagement; hence the screw contact is more effective and can be proportioned to meet the current interchange duty of the con tact assembly. 1

To seal the cup I00 and protect thecurrent carrying connections, a circular gasket I55 and a protective non-corrosive ring I36 are placed around the pin at the opening of the cup.

Referring to Figure 2b,'it is there seen that instead of the protective ring I56, a press fit cap 200 can be used to retain gasket I55 in place.

And finally referring to Figure 2c, threaded contact surfaces I03 and IE2 of cup I00and pin I30, respectively, are shown here protected by means of a round 0 ring of synthetic material squeezed between endsH0 and cup I00 toeffect a seal. It is easily seen, in fact, that if, member amen and with it pin I30 is rotated with respect to member 16 from the position shown in Figure 2c, 0 ring 205 will be squeezed and becomes oval in shape to effect a good seal.

To further protect 0 ring 205, a shield 29-8 may be used around ring 205 as shown in Figure 2c.

Appropriate no-oxid or other material which will protect the contacts from corrosion may be included in the member NH. The current path from the main disconnect contact block from the hinge casting 10 to the frame 13 is, therefore, through each of the arms H0 and surfaces H2 and [3! to the hinge pin I30, then from contact surface I62 to contact surface I03 of the cup I00 on each of the arms 16, through the arms 16 to the frame 13 and then to the terminal 80.

Thus, pigtails or shunts of any kind are avoided. The current carrying connection at the hinge is through fully enclosed weatherproofed and fully protected movable contact members.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with specific illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modifications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch for large current magnitudes having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm including a current carrying threaded pin; means securing one end of said pin to said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface receiving the other end of said threaded pin; means biasing said pin in one direction in said cylindrical recess and effecting a close engagement between the surfaces of said threads on one side of each thread, the surface to surface engagement of annular portions of said threads forming the said current carrying connection; said current carrying threaded pin connected for relative movement with respect to said frame when said switch is moved from open to closed position; means sealing said engaged annular surfaces of said threads within said recess.

2. A switch for large current magnitudes having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm including a current carrying threaded pin; means securing one end of said pin to said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface receiving the other end of said threaded in; means biasing said pin in one direction in said cylindrical recess and effecting a close engagement between the surfaces of said threads on one side of each thread, the surface to surface engagement of annular portions of said threads forming the said current carrying connection; said current carrying threaded pin connected for relative movement with respect to said frame when said switch is moved from open to closed position.

3. A switch for large current magnitudes having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection betweensaid frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm including a current carrying threaded pin; means securing one end of said pin to said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface receiving the other end of said threaded pin; a compression spring in said recess and effecting a close engagement between the surfaces of said threads on "one side of each thread, the surface to surface engagement of annular portions of said threads forming the said current carrying connection; said current carrying threaded pin connected for relative movement with respect to said frame when said switch is moved from open to closed position; means sealing said engaged annular surfaces of said threads within said recess.

4. A switch for large current magnitudes having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm including a current carrying threaded pin; means securing one end of said pin to said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface receiving the other end of said threaded pin; means biasing said pin in one direction in said cylindrical recess and effecting a close engagement between the surfaces of said threads on one side of each thread, the surface to surface engagement of annular portions of said threads forming the said current carrying connection; said current carrying threaded pin connected for relative movement with respect to said frame when said switch is moved from open to closed position; the end of said cylindrical recess opposite that which receives the threaded pin being closed and a sealing member between the other end of said recess and the said pin; said current carrying threads being enclosed between said closed end and said sealing member.

5. A current carrying connection for conducting large current magnitudes having a fixed and a movable member, one of said members carrying a threaded pin, the other of said members having a partly threaded cylindrical recess, said threads of said recess engaging the threads of said pin, means biasing said pin in one direction with said cylindrical recess and effecting a close engagement between the surfaces of said threads on one side of each thread, the surface to surface engagement of annular portions of said threads forming the said current carrying connection, said threaded pin being relatively movable with respect to said other of said members.

GUSTAVE E. HEBERLEIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911,038 Rauh May 23. 1933 2,453,011 Graybill Nov. 2. 194:8 

